Read Online Stealing Time by Nancy Pennick - Free Book Online Page A

him.
    “Nice to meet you.” Kate shook his hand, but
someone behind him distracted her.
    “Finally, may I present my girl, Renae.” Carl
took the girl’s hand and led her around Josie and Carl.
    Kate suppressed both a gasp and look of
shock. Renae looked almost like Rachel Cook...only a modern day
version. Tall and slender with large dark brown, almond- shaped
eyes and high cheek bones, she was gorgeous. Her jet black hair
hung straight, chin length, parted to one side, falling over most
of one eye.
    “Wow, you could be a model,” was all Kate
could think of to say.
    “And so could you.” Renae smiled. Her white
beaded flapper dress sparkled under the lights.
    “Renae, you’re too modest.” Carl put her arm
around her. “She is a model.”
    “I’d love to hear more about that and how you
met.” Kate tried to muster up a smile as she looked back and forth
between the two of them.
    “Oh, it’s a long story. I’m sure you have
more guests to greet,” Carl said calmly. Nothing seemed to bother
him. He didn’t seem to mind that Thomas III was headed straight for
them.
    “Aunt Josie, Carl!” Thomas greeted his
family. Then he looked at Carl Jr. “And what are you doing here
with my cousin Renae?”
    “Chance encounter, Thomas. Small world, isn’t
it?” Carl slapped him on the back, seeming unfazed by the comment.
Thomas looked confused but didn’t ask more questions.
    Maya stayed in the background during the
introductions and now gave Kate a hug. “I hope this goes well,” she
whispered in Kate’s ear.
    Drew pulled Kate away from the group and into
the family room. It was transformed into another world. There were
chocolate and champagne fountains at the ends of a long table. A
large, three-tiered cake decorated in black and white was the
centerpiece. Bouquets of red roses were on every black
linen-covered table. Bunches of silver foil star balloons mixed
with black and white latex dotted the room.
    Old movie posters— The Mark of Zorro, Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Kid , and The Jazz
Singer —decorated the walls. Easels were spread throughout the
room with black and white photos of stars of that era—Charlie
Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino, Marlene
Dietrich. “Rhapsody in Blue” was playing softly in the background,
making Kate want to cry.
    “Are those tears?” Drew wiped the corner of
her eye.
    “Of happiness. This is all so lovely, so Anna.”
    Lindsey and her group of friends entered the
room. “O...M...G.!” One of the girls called out, heading for the
champagne fountain, quickly grabbing a glass to fill.
    “We’re really not old enough to drink,” Kate
whispered to Drew.
    “This is a speakeasy, isn’t it? There was no
age limit.” Drew laughed and joined the line, returning with two
glasses. “To the most beautiful girl here.” He lifted his glass in
the air. “Happy Birthday.”
    Kate took a sip. “Ooh, that girl’s going to
be disappointed. This is sparkling white grape juice.” She giggled
and slipped her arm through Drew’s. They wandered around the room,
viewing all the decorations.
    The rest of the guests filtered into the room
as appetizers on huge silver trays were placed on the table.
Crab-stuffed mushrooms with parmesan cheese, spinach dip and crusty
pieces of bread, tiny cabbage rolls, oysters on the half shell,
finger sandwiches and deviled eggs seemed to fit right into the
theme of the night. The menu for dinner was engraved in white on
small black note cards that had been given to the guests.
     
    Roaring Twenties Birthday
Dinner
    Breast of Chicken a la
Rose
    Medallion of Spring Lamb,
Chasseur
    Potatoes a la
Hollandaise
    Asparagus Tips au Gratin
    Peas and Carrots
    Waldorf Salad,
Mayonnaise
     
    Kate was impressed. Some of these same things
had been served at her great-great Aunt Lucinda’s wedding back in
September of 1927.
    The night was not just an eighteenth birthday
party; it was a celebration of the love. The love of friends